I barely grazed the surface of the Laurel vs Yanny debate before deciding I am not going to let the pointless debate rent any space in my day. However, as I was catching up on my Bible reading plan today, I read the following verses that brought Laurel/Yanny back to mind:

“Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we a crown that will never fade away. Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:24-27‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

The prized crown for the winner of the Greek games would have been a Laurel wreath: a ring of twisted branches that would eventually whither. God’s Word encourages us to live with diligence: our way of racing for the unfading Laurel crown of finishing strong as followers of Christ.

I have been running hard these last few months. The Holy Spirit has clearly instructed me to finish the Bible Study for young women that I began writing several years ago. In obedience, I have pressed hard to finish strong. I have also been training my body with more diligence, spending money more conservatively in attempt to stick to our budget, and striving for more intentionality in how I parent our kids.

I am aiming for the Laurel.

But every time I do, Yanny gets in the way.

It is easier for me to hear apparently. I looked for the official definition of the word Yanny and couldn’t find one. Apparently, it is simply a cacophonous sound of distraction (the internet proved it). This is certainly true in my life.

The distracting voice of Yanny in my life comes in the form of instagram stories, Facebook videos, my own negative or self-loathing thoughts, my fears about the opinions of others, over-thinking simple things—your ultra-basic selfie problems. When I get stuck thinking about myself, whether thinking highly or poorly, I get trapped in the deafening dissonance of yanny:

Shame on me for letting our son get a sunburn.

I should have tried to sound more intelligent or witty in that conversation.

Wow, my hospitality deserves a pat on the back.

I totally need a break from this mom-thing.

I am defeated.

I am a rock-star.

I am numb.

I need Ben and Jerry’s.

I try to engage it, defeat it, overcome the “yanny” echoing in my head. However, my debate with the voices of my fleshly temptations or the worlds expectations is like training as “one who runs aimlessly or boxes like one beating the air.”

We might not have the cognitive or auditory capabilities of hearing Laurel instead of yanny. But we can choose the self-control of our awareness and intentionality to reach for the unfading Laurel of Christian discipline.

Here are some areas I know The Holy Spirit is coaching me to begin training in for godliness:

Bible reading: Spiritual nutrition is necessary, even if the spiritual appetite isn’t always there. I ask God to help me become less like a Pharisee about this–feeling godly because I checked it off the list. I want to feel more like a devoted child, who knows time spent with Dad is a treasure, even if it feels like we are just reading the morning paper together.

Prayer: We must connect with The Lord, because He is worthy, and it is what is best for us. He deserves our praise and worship in prayer, is big enough to hear our fears and complaints, and longs to have that kind of open intimacy with us that only comes through direct conversation. Right now, this discipline is the most difficult for me.

Journaling: it is like a soul detox.

Meditation: a re-centering of body, heart, soul, and mind, to come in submission under the authority and grace of Christ. This is my focus when I do yoga at home.

Fasting: Figure out what is “Yanny” for you, and take a break from it. A few months ago for me it was snacking. Now as Summer begins, I am going to take 3 weeks off from social media and online shopping/browsing to make a little more space for the voice of TRUTH to be more prominent in my heart and mind.

Worship: It is all about Jesus.

Fellowship: How can I get to know my Beloved better if I do not take time to get to know His Beloved: His bride, the church? I get more of Jesus when I spend time with His people.

Service: This is perhaps one of the best ways to siphon the Yanny out of my head. This week, I am in quarantine for being sick. So I write letters to encourage Gods people, and I pray for those I know do not have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus… yet. Activities that focus my mind on others energize me to tap into God’s heart. When I connect deeper with the truth of God, my heart and head clear of insecurity and selfish thoughts.

Scripture Memory: I almost forgot this one! Romans 8 is my goal this year, and the process is slow, but imperative for instilling truth deep in my heart where it can make a difference in my identity.

Isn’t it ironic?

I was quick to dismiss a superfluous internet debate as a waste of my time. However, when it comes to the actual voice of victory (by focusing on Jesus) vs the voice of defeat (by self-centered distraction), I realize I need to pay a bit more attention to what I am actually hearing.

P.S.: New Website Coming Soon!

You may have noticed I am trying to get used to a new website name: Beckyrosty.com (coming soon!). Campfiregrace.com has served me incredibly well these last few years. However, the new website name and format will better suit my goal to serve women and young adults through speaking and writing about God’s amazing love for us. (Don’t worry, the significance of Campfire Grace will make a reappearance.)

Stay tuned in June for the new website launch, where you can keep up to date on my speaking calendar, new Bible study content, and the book launch of Joyfully Ever After.

As always, if this article has impacted you in any way, please feel free to share!

“You guys, I found jogging shorts with pockets!” I exclaimed to a table full of college age ladies whom I get to mentor. They gave each other sideways glances and shook their heads. Was I missing something? Are pockets not the most glorious thing ever!? Eventually, one of them offered some perspective: “It must be a mom thing,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders.

What!? My thoughts were spinning. Doesn’t everyone at the gym have a phone and keys and headphones to juggle? Not that we would actually run with anything in the pockets, but doesn’t everyone get excited to have a place to stash the stuff between the workout and the drive home?

Then I realized the truth: moms are probably the only ones who cannot just simply hold these things in our hands. We have to be hands-free for the little ones we walk across the parking lot. Our hands must be ready to receive the beautiful coloring page of pink and purple scribbles they made so special for us. We need high-five hands available to acknowledge the sweet karate moves and ballerina twirls. How can mommy scoop up her whimpering toddler if her fingers are full?

Moms need pockets.

When I began unpacking my identity as a mother, I never expected pockets to be such a crucial part of the journey. But now, most of my dresses now have pockets. If they don’t, I wear jackets and sweaters with pockets. I chide myself every time I wear leggings without pockets. I have become a pocket-enthusiast!

Those B.C. days (Before Children, see what I did there) kept my hands full. On any given day I could keep a comfortable grip on piles of loose things: my cell phone, dog’s leash, car keys, wallet, journal, and lipgloss. However, if motherhood has taught me anything, it is that these hands were made for cultivating souls, not carrying stuff.

I am learning to appreciate the process of letting more things go in order to embrace my children: certain expectations for my body, goals for my career, and the never-ending impulse to appear impressive, just to start. None of these are bad, per say; they just keep my heart and mind and calendar too full.

I think we all need to find a lifestyle with pockets. We need more built-in margins of time and space to stash our extra stuff for a little bit. I need a place in my heart to store up some expectations for myself that are sometimes life-giving, but right now only serve as distractions from my stay-present mama journey. I need pockets in my social life, and deeply appreciate the friendships that span those extra gaps with grace for me.

Because my amazing kids are little, and I don’t want to shove them into the proverbial pocket of “I’ll pick that up later.” But I am still grateful for these lifestyle pockets that hold on to desires and dreams and details for later.

If you are wondering if you have been fully initiated into #momlife yet, check your outfits for pockets. I bet you have some. Let them daily remind you to keep your hands and heart free for your kids today; because there is grace and new beginnings for those pocketed priorities to be picked up when the time is right.

And if you are not a mother, but somehow made it to the end of this post, I encourage you to take some time to thank your own mom for her pockets.

Has your mom made room for you in her own heart and hands? Express your gratitude by sharing this post with her on Facebook or Twitter.

Did you know that your relationship with Jesus is the most important thing in your life? Recognizing the significance of our faith can be difficult because it is rarely celebrated. We look toward other life events—like prom, graduation, or a wedding—to affirm who we are.

However, the Bible says you don’t have to wait to begin your “ever after.” In Christ, it has already started! When you place your faith in Jesus, God declares you a royal member of His family. Your Joyfully Ever After can start now, with Jesus.

I am passionate about this exciting message of hope and freedom for women who want a solid foundation for their identities. That is why I am publishing my first Bible study: Joyfully Ever After: Your Identity, God’s Delight.

Here is your WIN-WIN!!! –> The Kickstarter price for a physical copy of the book and all 8 teaching session is just $25 (not including shipping). Once this project is officially published in September 2018 (tentative), the projected cost on Amazon for the book will be $15, and each video session $3 for a total of $39 (not including shipping).

You win when you pre-order the book for a low price, and I win when you support my campaign to get my book professionally edited, formatted, and outfitted with a polished cover. Thanks for checking it out!

This is our dining room table.

My weekly planner shares space with Titus’s dump truck. Crumbs grace the floor even though one perk of owning a dog should be no crumbs on the floor.

Real life happens here all the time, despite my efforts for ideal meals and clean floors.

Here is what a week around this hunk of wood looks like:

Monday: My hands intertwine with my husbands on top of this table. We pray for the week ahead, our calendars and weekly budget face-up on the table to give us perspective. What is God up to that we can be a part of?

Tuesday: Our table sits untouched today. Kids and I join friends for a physically and emotionally filling feast. Their graciousness to open their home to us was incredibly timely, as a busy day (with less intentionality than I would have liked) left us without thawed meat for dinner. Shane is munching on pizza as he leads Bible study on campus.

Wednesday: A round of Candy Land takes over the Table. We suck on candy canes left over from Christmas as we play. The table gets quite sticky. And I am not even sorry. I extend my writing hour past the twins’ naptime. I kick myself for putting a movie on when they wake up so I can finish a chapter… and scroll through facebook, let’s be honest. So much grace is offered to me here as Evi grabs her own notebook and pink play phone to “work with mommy.” I add on more item to my to-do list: invest affection into the kids. C’mon stay-present mama!

Thursday: On the Table rest mugs of comforting hot cocoa. I sit with a terrified college student, silent prayers constantly rising. An unplanned pregnancy threatens to unravel her, but HOPE in Jesus intervenes. I share the Good News. She accepts Jesus as her Lord and Savior. She cannot stop smiling as she walks out of my home. Beaming with peace and understanding that she is loved and adopted by the Most high God, she begins to see the life growing inside her is a blessing.

That night, we host 3 couples who will soon be embarking on the adventure of marriage. They choose to prep for the journey with pre-marital counseling. We kick off the season with a creamy chicken Parmesan dish and fun proposal stories. Young couples’ love proves contagious to Shane and I. We flirt a little more liberally as we clear the dirty dishes.

Friday: Our Table hosts our favorite meal of the week: Friday Feast! It is Shane’s day off, so we all sleep in and have a big brunch at 10 AM. We break open steamy muffins and lick our lips as we salt our egg-hash-brown mashup. Evi tells us a story about princesses and heroes. Titus interrupts with a tale of Spider-Man. Both use great transition words and vocal inflection. I start to see how much fun it is to impart a love for story-telling into our kids. Daddy kicks off a round of chase around the stairwell, and I push chairs closer to the table so nobody trips.

Saturday: The Table is a mess. It became the catch-all for this end to the busy week. I am annoyed our home isn’t magazine-tidy, but then again, when is that the life I want anyway? Only the moments I am perusing through Instagram or Better Homes and Gardens. When I really look at my table, the sticky edges and mug rings are exactly what makes this gathering place sacred… and beautiful. I ask God to change my perspective and my heart from bitter to blessed.

Sunday: A round of Spoons threatens to scratch the veneer of this lovely table top. But we don’t mind. Our Sunday Night Dinners have made their way into our weekly rhythm, and the cost is well worth the return. We host college students for a home-away-from-home gathering, and this specific night called for extra celebration. Another one of our students declared Jesus as her Lord and Savior earlier that day at a Bible study. Having been raised in a home that did not acknowledge Jesus, she came to our student ministry with an open mind, hoping to find a supportive community. What she received was an invitation into the royal family of God. We celebrated her enthusiastic RSVP with popcorn and card games. Two salvation stories in 1 week humbles me greatly.

This is our dining room table.

Spilled milk left under the paw-patrol placemat has warped the table top on the left side. Crumbs that fall daily have gathered for a perpetual conference under the beam near the floor (clearly a footrest right?).

All this, and yet how can one mama be so moved by one messy mesa?

Emotional mommy-tears are often poured out at this table. Uncontrollable laughter cascades regularly over its beams. Lots of mistakes are made as I push away kids to focus on my to-do list. Chairs get rocked back an inch too far from this table, toppling over to the sound of a wailing 3 year old.

Manners are being learned, bellies are being filled, and hearts are being healed here. The quiet hours of my morning routine here are vastly contrasted by the squealing coloring festival the twins create in the hours before nap time.

Many prayers have launched their way to Gods attentive ear from this table. Much forgiveness and grace is offered here.

Perhaps this is the most sacred spot of our home. So today, I am grateful for our dining table and the crumbs and memories made here.

So you agonized over your personal Word of the Year (WOTY) and finally arrived at the perfect mantra, focus, challenge, etc… but now what? I suggest you find a way to VISUALIZE your Word in a way that tangibly brings it (or it’s meaning) to mind every day.

Here are 7 of my favorite ideas:

1. Accessorize with It

In my last post, we explored ways to perceive our WOTY. For me, my Word “Advocate” acts as a scale to weigh my thoughts, options, and circumstances. Having my word printed on this gorgeous gold bar necklace has forced me to acknowledge it constantly. It is so pretty, its purpose is hard to ignore.

Every time I bend over (which is a lot with little kids running around!) this necklace falls down over my chin. At first it was annoying during every downward dog in yoga class; however, soon I began spending these moments praying for my co-gym mates or my little kiddos. And sometimes the bright gold catches the light perfectly in my bathroom mirror, reminding me to attend to my appearance in a way to advocate for the gospel (think: Image Bearer confident in Christ).

I love wearing my Word so much, I want to share a similar necklace with one of you! Enter here then scroll to the bottom of this post for more details on my Word of the Year Necklace Giveaway (Giveaway Now Closed 1/17/18).

2. Paint a Canvas

Full disclosure: I have broken an unspoken rule of the personal WOTY: I have more than one word!

My sisters and I set up a canvas-painting party with our mom after Christmas. I was bound and determined to somehow paint a representation of “Advocate.” As paint splashed from my brush, unexpected vulnerable fears leaked from my soul. What came out instead of “advocate” was a raw but imperative second word for the coming year: F L O W.

F L O W helps me be bendy, fluid, and moldable. While pushing into the intentionality of gospel advocacy is a powerful display of obedience to God, so is an awareness of the Holy Spirit’s guidance and ease-of-burden in the process. My F L O W canvas reminds me of all these things from its perch above my piano, in the one quiet room of the house where I study God’s Word and practice yoga.

3. Make It Your Jam

In the year of “Live Alive,” I compiled a playlist on Spotify that represented our goal to live boldly, fully, and gratefully throughout 2017. Sounding off with Rend Collective’s Live Alive, my Happy Island playlist is still a family favorite. Inviting our kids to add their “live alive” songs added to the joy and ownership for everyone in our family. You will never hear a more eclectic mix of Bob Marley, Chris Tomlin, Disney soundtracks, and James Brown (I Feel Good, I knew that I would, now!). Check it out here.

4. Label Your Year Book

One of my FAVORITE things I have ever done for our family was build an annual photo album on Shutterfly. This brings me to my second confession: I do not pick my word of the year in January. We usually pick it in the summertime before the school year, when we are tangibly faced with seasonal life changes.

Our family year books represent an entire school year, beginning with the summertime beforehand. I organize the photos throughout the year and order the book on Cyber Monday. Our kids look forward to opening their Christmas Eve box and seeing the former year in photos. This year, I added our “Live Alive” WOTY to the front of the book, along with photographed moments in which we were intentional to do some abundant living.

5. Doodle It on Repeat

Art journaling is a somewhat more official and sophistic form of doodling important things, either in an actual journal, or pretty much anywhere you have space to create. One year, my word of the year was Flourish. I represented this word with leafy doodles and flowering patterns of ink in my journals (I end up with several year). In fact, these reminders to Flourish ended up everywhere: random sticky notes, to-do lists, my daily journal, sermon notes, white boards, grocery lists and even a hand-painted canvas. This growing collage of encouragement throughout my home kept me focused throughout the year.

6. Frame Your Word

For 2 years now, my husband and I have attended a small prayer banquet for our local crisis pregnancy center ministry. At the end of the banquet, the staff gives each attendee a blank sealed envelope with a specific Word inside. These words have been powerful for me. Last year, my Word was World Changer. The accompanying verses gave me courage to pursue some writing and speaking opportunities I was wavering on. Invigorated, I immediately framed both Shane’s word and mine and hung them next to our bathroom mirror.

This year, my word was Enjoy. At first, I balked at this card telling me to enjoy the year ahead. Excuse me, I think this card was for someone else; I am Becky Rosty! Enjoying life is not something I need reminded of. So I avoided putting my new word in the frame for months! This week as I contemplated this blog post, I realized I really do need the reminder to enjoy.

2018 is the now-or-never year to finish up some precious life projects. Pressing in to finish strong is not always fun, or glamorous. If I am going to be the aforementioned world-changer, I am going to need to enjoy things that bore me, things that scare me. Or I will probably just not do them. And some things are too important to let go.

Visit our master bath sometime and find our new encouraging words displayed prominently for my daily humbling. (And yes, that now adds up to 3 motivationally challenging Words of the Year, who cares.)

7. Display a Representative Object

In 2016, my WOTY Flourish also prompted me to give a potted plant center stage in my home. The poor thing needed pruning this year, which is incredibly profound when you think of how that applies to my WOTY. Maybe, in order to keep flourishing in 2018, I need a little pruning too?

Perhaps you have a similar Word this year? Find room in your budget to buy a bouquet of flowers each month to remind you to Bloom. Trying to stay present? Grab an inspiring daily desk calendar to keep your focus on the now. Those with Simplify in mind might display a crisp white bowl on their table; make it the family goal to keep the bowl empty, both literally and figuratively.

The New Year is still new, my friends! If you are still contemplating why you should choose a Word of the Year, I have some ideas for you. Here are 5 ways a word can positively influence your life in 2018!

But first, let me introduce my Word for 2018:

Advocate.

This word is probably my favorite Word of the Year (WOTY) so far. For our family, it means we never stop looking for ways to make the good news of Jesus’ love famous to the people around us.

I had this beautiful necklace made to daily remind me of my commitment to gospel-advocacy. I am so moved by this piece of jewelry that I just have to share it with one of you! Joy In the Morning has partnered with me at Campfire Grace for this exciting opportunity. She has reserved a similar necklace for you to commemorate your own Word of the Year! This stunning accessory is 14kt gold, valued at $56!

To enter, add your name and email to the form below, then scroll through all the beautiful designs over at Joy in the Morning.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED 1/17/18. Congratulations to April Rogers!

And now for 5 Fresh Ideas for Your Word of the Year:

1. A Gentle Rudder:

A few years ago, I traded New Years goals for a Word of the Year. Goals felt harsh and bossy. Failure to finish felt crippling. By picking a WOTY, I traded fear of coming up short for confidence of going in a helpful direction. I think of it more as a rudder to my ship than a destination I must reach. This word steers me gently regardless of circumstances: whether I face choppy waters ahead or a steady breeze to push me along this year.

The year of 2017 was filled with moments that left me overjoyed! It also hollowed out my soul with immense sorrow. And yet, my Word helped me navigate each season. My Word of the year was “Live Alive.” In the bubbling laughter of the twins turning 3, I enjoyed the gift of life we had been given. Through the agonizing heart-break of lossed lives and world chaos, I stopped taking for granted this privilege of life lived fully. Each change of 2017, I asked, how can I fully live alive in the midst of this?

WOTY suggestions that serve as Rudders: Strength, Trust, Breathe

2. A Perspective Lens:

How our circumstances affect us is largely how we view them. In 2016, my word was Flourish. When my twins were potty training, I kept my eyes open for how I was still flourishing in the frustration of accidents and laundry and lots of tears.

How could you use a specific Word to filter how you see your year? Pick a word like “Giggle” and you might just laugh off the drama in the office. Adopt “Hallelujah” as your mantra, and notice every event as a reason to give praise to God!

3. A Butler:

I want my goals, my word, my ambitions to work for me, not the other way around. It is too easy for me to become a slave to what I want to fix in my life. Instead, the intentional WOTY will work for me.

As a Butler, my Word will remind me to focus on the best things. It will usher in my favorite thoughts first thing in the morning. It will open the front door of my mind only to desirable guests like encouraging thoughts and creativity. It will promptly shoo away lies and discouragement that ask to take residence in my thinking.

WOTY suggestions that serve as butlers: Kindness, Intentional, Thrive

4. A Scale for Decisions:

For many of us, 2018 is already intimidating us with the wide open field of opportunities. Soon-to-be-graduates, recent empty-nesters, and everyone in between are facing lots of decisions this year. Why not pick a Word that could filter each option that comes our way?

We get flyers in my mailbox for another kids’ activity. Our Facebook notifications panel is full of invites to support one friend or another in their home-based business party. Our churches are asking for volunteers to lead home based small groups. Our coworkers chatty activity in the break room beckon us to join in gossip. Our mirrors and scales offer the options to self-loathe or keep living fully.

As I already mentioned, my word for 2018 is Advocate. My husband and I prayerfully discovered it together. We can easily filter out (i.e.: say no to) any option that does not help us to advocate for the hope of the gospel among those who live in darkness.

5. An Ebenezer:

The Bible describes an Ebenezer was a monument or visual reminder of God’s faithfulness to His people. Last year, our word “Live Alive” was in many ways an Ebenezer to God’s care for us through some difficult times. God helped us keep living. God helped us keep thriving! And we could count on Him to do so continually.

Why not pick a word that represents God’s relentless love for you? This word will serve as a rudder, a butler, and an Ebenezer all year long.

Happy New Year!!!

One of the highlights of 2017 was learning to meditate on the loving care God has for me. The unexpected catalysts this contemplative practice was a yoga class.

The only spiritual connections I have made in yoga are with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am VERY intentional about setting my mind on things above as I enter into each pose. Positioning my body in different ways helps me to open my heart and quiet my mind to focus more fully on Gods goodness.

I have an arsenal of Scripture memorized that comes to mind during each pose as well. I am very grateful for this exercise of self-silence and self-control.

Perhaps this kind of Christ-centered pose and meditation practice might encourage you too! The following is from my Campfire Grace Flow Playlist. Take an hour to ring in this first week of the new year with me. (Follow my Spotify Profile for more other CGrace Flow playlists, including a 30 minute flow and an evening flow.)

If Yoga isn’t your thing, spend some time journaling, sitting in the stillness with a candle and your Bible, or even jogging to these worshipful songs that may just help clear your mind for the new year.

This is the Way God Loves You, by Sleeping at Last

Ease in with slow moving instrumentals. Focus on the deep belly breaths.

*Favorite lyric: none. (But I appreciate mediating on the title as I begin to think about Gods goodness and care for me.)

**Pose: cross legged on the mat, deep breaths **

Touch the Sky, Hillsong United

*Favorite lyric: “my heart beating, my soul breathing, I found my life when I laid it down.”

**Pose: cat/cow variations and child’s pose **

Welcome Here, Chris Quilala

Reaching upward/flowing through sun-salutations are the perfect pairing for this song.

*”Breath of heaven, voice of thunder, in your presence I surrender…”

**Sun-salutation variations**

First, Lauren Daigle

*”Before I bring my need I will bring my heart and seek you first.”

**Warrior 3**

Shadow step, Hillsong United

*”You met me at the sinners table, I found you waiting by the well, unexpected.”

**chair pose, warrior 2**

Simple Pursuit, Passion

*”God take us back to an unswerving faith in the power of your name, a heart beating for your kingdom to reign, a church that is known for your presence again.”

**balance pose, tree pose**

Then the trees of the forest will shout for joy before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth. 1 Chronicles 16:33

When I am Afraid, Laura Hackett

These lyrics share the cry of Psalm 61:2, and empower me every time I hear it. (Claim it and sing along!)

*”There is no peace of mind outside of truth in Christ!”

**boat pose, floor work for abs/core**

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭6:12-13‬

Closer to Your Heart, Kari Jobe

*”Holy, I get lost in your love. Holy, Full of awe and wonder. You keep drawing me closer to your heart.”

**Hip openers, figure 4″

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”‭‭ John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭

Lay It All Down, Will Reagan

This song may be my most powerful mantra, and by this point in the yoga flow, my emotions are ready to encounter this kind of surrender.

*”Carried on but your heart was tired, feared the worst and felt the fire. Lay it all down. Lay it all down. Filled with all those anxious thoughts, all your doubts became your god. Lay it all down at the feet of Jesus.”

**Biggest inhalation yet, Side twists with a flow**

In the Name of Love, Kari Jobe

*When there’s madness, when there’s poison in your head, when the sadness leaves you broken in your bed, I will hold you in the depths of your despair and it’s all in the name of love.”

Don’t let the trumpets at the beginning throw you off. When I first heard this song, I listened to it 3 times to fully grasp the beauty of its poetry. I am consistently astounded by the imagery of dogwood flowers representing how Jesus took our blame in his own body as he died.

*“I tried to get to you, but you came to me instead. With the dawn, the grave is gone. Oh how you wish to be with me.”

**any final poses I missed, alternate nostril breath**

House of God Forever, Jon Foreman

This song is my signal to begin a savasana (corpse pose). Rest in the calming guitar strums and occasional harmonica. These lyrics are a lovely recitation of Psalm 23.

*“He makes me rest in fields of green, with quiet streams.”

**Corpse Pose**

Come to Me, Bethel Music

A bit of contemplative instrumental to zone in deeper to the love and care God has for me.

*Sometimes I recall the lyrics to the original worship song as I breathe: “come to me, I’m all you need.”

**Corpse Pose**

…

Note: I have zero professional training in exercise, mediation, or yoga. This is just a little bit of what I do at home to connect with my creator and Heavenly Father through poses and meditation on His goodness.

“Why did Jesus come?” I asked our kids on the drive to church yesterday. Our son took a long time to arrive at his answer.

Eventually he responded, “because he wasn’t there.”

His simple, straight-forward conclusion has profoundly impacted me and left me pondering all day.

Jesus. Wasn’t. There.

There was no access to grace, to love, to friendship with God… because Jesus wasn’t there.

Humanity was groping through the spiritual darkness… because Jesus wasn’t there.

God allowed his creation to feel the weight of his silence, the longing in His absence, the sting of their own consequences… because Jesus wasn’t there.

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” Galatians 4:4-5

…

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” Isaiah 9:2

This also leaves me with questions:

I cannot imagine a world where Jesus was not there, arms open, invitation extended, knocking at the door. But how often to I live my life unaware of His presence? His nearness?

God is With Us!

Immanuel.

But what seems to be more present, more pressing, more there is busyness. To-do lists. Schedules full to the brim. Time and stuff and people to manage. All our attempts at flourishing fall short when Jesus isn’t there.

Lord, make my heart attentive to Immanuel all year long. Because Jesus IS here!

Second question: How many of my friends and family still live in a world where Jesus isn’t there?

Clinging to darkness when a gift of light and hope rests under the cross-tree on which Jesus hung in our place. Unaware of the Christ-child who became King, worthy of worship and allegiance and gratitude.

On this Christmas morning, my contemplating, grieving, celebrating, joy-filled heart is still blessed. Because Jesus is here, carrying burdens, caring deeper than I ever could, and championing hearts even still as King and Savior.